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Last night, a huge explosion ripped through West, Texas, a small town near Waco, killing somewhere between five and 15 people and injuring hundreds. While criminal activity hasn’t been ruled out, the New York Times has reported that the fire began at a fertilizer plant:

It began with a smaller fire at the plant, West Fertilizer, just off Interstate 35, about 20 miles north of Waco that was attended by local volunteer firefighters, said United States Representative Bill Flores. “The fire spread and hit some of these tanks that contain chemicals to treat the fertilizer,” Mr. Flores said, “and there was an explosion which caused wide damage.”

With this kind of neglect, worker safety is in serious condition. More than 4,500 people were killed at work in 2010, up three percent from the previous year, meaning that more American workers died on the job in one year than died during the entire Iraq war. This doesn’t even count the others who might suffer from dangerous workplace conditions like those residents of West injured in the blast who didn’t work at the plant.

The West, Texas fertilizer plant where a powerful explosion killed at least 14 and injured dozens on Wednesday failed to disclose a massive ammount of ammonium nitrate ordinarily regulated by federal officials, according to Reuters.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security requires fertilizer plants and depots to disclose amounts of ammonium nitrate, which can be used to make a bomb, above 400 lbs. The West, Texas plant, West Fertilizer, reportedly held 270 tons of the substance, 1,350 times that limit.

"This facility was known to have chemicals well above the threshold amount to be regulated under the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Act (CFATS), yet we understand that DHS did not even know the plant existed until it blew up," Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) said in a statement, according to Reuters.

If there is a dangerous forum ... that's the one. -- LWW (referring to BD NPR)

And all of those Republican Representaties from Texas are the same ones who voted against helping the NJ and NY victims of hurricane Sandy.

As usual, IIARIOK.

Oh yeah, they were all carrying on about moochers and pork and they all voted against it. Chris Christie was absolutely crucified for putting the needs of his constituents first, and working with Pres. Obama to help the affected areas rebuild.

Now, those same Texas "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" GOP'ers have a massive explosion at a PRIVATE facility which goes off with about the same force as a small nuclear tactical warhead. Half or more of the surrounding town is flattened and many other homes are on fire. The blast is felt 60 miles away. A musroom cloud rises way up into the sky.

The plant had not been inspected since 1985.

They were storing more than 1350 times the allowable quantity of a particularly nasty explosive.

Now, the Texas GOP need their Uncle Sam to pay for an entirely avoidable man made disaster that is the direct result of a lack of regulatory oversight, frequent inspections, and hefty fines or jail time for offenders.

So they go to Obama hat in hand asking for Federal money to rebuild the plant and housing for the townsfolk. They needn't worry, we're liberals we don't mind helping others.

If there is a dangerous forum ... that's the one. -- LWW (referring to BD NPR)